“Food and water have been generously supplied by lords from other regions, so now it’s time to break through the siege.”

As I responded bluntly, Aston gave me a satisfying smile. It seemed that my counterargument to Siena’s statement, pretending to speak the truth, was pleasing to him.

“Duchess Kiton is right. Even if we have to drive out zombies to establish a face for the lords willing to help us on all fronts, it is necessary.”

“Your words are reasonable.”

“To fulfill the order given by His Excellency to defend the empire.”

Even if we didn’t perfectly match our statements beforehand, Aston knew how to skillfully produce a competent response.

“Oh!”

“Did His Excellency Ardel directly convey the prophecy to Your Highness?”

The eyes of some who had been somewhat suspicious changed with just that one sentence.

It had been a long time since His Excellency had given a prophecy. Still, Ardell was the only god of the state religion established by the Caldian Empire.

People gathered at the venue believed that the blessings Ardell bestowed upon this land had not yet been received.

The prophecy Ardell made was that the descendants of the first saint and pope, who dedicated themselves to the empire, would flourish for Ardell, a close friend and the first emperor of Caldian.

The prophecy had not been proven wrong until the zombies suddenly appeared and turned the entire country into chaos.

“Of course. Zero has listened to His Excellency’s words and conveyed them to me. Isn’t that right, Zero?”

Aston, responding positively and warmly to Zero, produced a gentle laugh like a saint.

“Huh? Uh, well… That’s right. He did. Ardell ordered me like that.”

As an observer, I felt like bursting into laughter.

‘I thought he looked just naive, but unexpectedly, he has a cunning side.’

There is no god in this land. Didn’t Zero confirm that?

However, the man with the red eyes was trying to subtly twist the atmosphere inside by mixing truth and lies without smearing saliva on his lips.

Ultimately, it wasn’t a bad choice. From the perspective of those who knew that Zero was a god, it was natural to believe in him.

They wouldn’t think that a god could lie.

“If His Highness, chosen as the saint, says so, it must be right.”

“If His Excellency conveyed an order through divine prophecy, we are reassured!”

It was ironic.

Aston, who doubted the existence of gods more than anyone else, reassured people by pulling out the existence of a god.

He seemed to have thrown away his indifferent and cold expression. Playing the role of an awe-inspiring and trustworthy leader in front of people, he appeared as flawless as a ruler.

Now it was my turn to fulfill the expectations of those who had discarded even a trace of doubt.

“Duchess Kiton, prepare for departure.”

“Of course, Your Highness. I will do my best to bring you the glad tidings.”

Applause erupted, cheering me on.
While portraying the appearance of a submissive servant, I glanced at Siena.

It was only a brief moment, but in that short time, I could witness the charming and affectionate mask of Siena shattering.

It was like a mirage; it disappeared without a trace almost instantly.

When I blinked, what reappeared was Siena, cheering with a flushed face, reminiscent of the determined supporters wishing for victory.

Elizabeth Kiton received the cheers of all the survivors in the mansion and left in the morning.

“I will return safely!”

The spirited response from the commanding general was followed by the disappearance of Elizabeth Kiton and a few servants who could wield weapons, including Ruth, Benedict, and Michael, through teleportation magic, leaving no trace behind.

Thanks to the exceptional magician Ruth, it was possible. It was also possible because the number of people taken was not that large.

‘It was more like a special forces operation than calling it an army.’

As Siena stared at the vanished place where Elizabeth Kiton and her party had been, she was lost in thought.

Her father, Kieran, was in a rather poor form, considering that he had gone to see it. If he had witnessed this scene himself, he would have surely sneered. He might have even hated expressing anger towards such trivial creatures like ants.

Either way, Siena didn’t need to think too deeply about it.

‘All that matters is carrying out His orders.’

Since arriving at the Kiton Duchy, Siena had consistently imitated the appearance of a fragile lamb.

Contrary to the desolate feelings inside, it was effortless. She could easily act as a kind and affectionate human being, as if she had already embodied it. Observing the people inside the mansion, Siena identified who among them could have given the command to kill Kieran.

Someone who would have influence among the survivors and possess the ability to do so. Above all, someone blessed by the gods due to their divine protection…

Unfortunately, the blessing of the gods was nowhere to be seen.

The only candidate was Michael, the Paladin, who had a divine power, but even that wasn’t certain.